ving solely occupied us for a length of
time, and now in such a forward state that we could lay the woodwork, we
began to grow tired of doing nothing. Almost the whole of us, therefore,
addressed Cortes in a body: representing to him, that we had now been
three months in this country, and high time we should just convince
ourselves how much truth there was in the boasted power of Motecusuma,
of which so much had been said: we would gladly risk our lives in it,
and therefore begged he would make preparations for this expedition.
But, previous to commencing our march, we ought first to give some proof
of our most humble submission to his majesty our emperor, by forwarding
him a complete account of everything that had befallen us since our
departure from Cuba. We also proposed that all the gold we had bartered
for, and the presents sent by Motecusuma, should be forwarded to his
majesty.

In answer to which Cortes said, that our ideas accorded exactly with his
own, and that he had already spoken to the same effect to several of the
cavaliers. There was merely one circumstance which caused him to
hesitate, namely, that if each person took the portion of gold which
fell to his share, too little would remain to be worthy of his majesty's
acceptance. For this reason he commissioned Diego de Ordas and Francisco
de Montejo, who were thorough men of business to see what they could
make out of those men whom they might expect would demand their share.
This was accordingly done, and they represented to every one that we
were desirous of sending his majesty the emperor a present in gold,
which, considering it was the first, ought indeed to be something
valuable. In order, however, to make this possible, nothing remained but
that each one should give up his share of the gold which had been made
up to this moment. A great number of officers and soldiers had already
signed their hands to that effect; yet every one was at liberty to act
herein as he thought proper. Here was the paper, which every one who
chose could put his hand to.

Every one, without exception, signed his name to the document, and
agents were chosen to be despatched to Spain. These were Alonso
Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo, to whom Cortes himself had
already given above two thousand pesos. The best vessel of our squadron,
furnished with the necessary provisions and manned with fifteen sailors,
was selected to convey them. The charge of the vessel was given to